In my first lengthy missive on wine criticism, I went over the various flaws I see in the current system. In this post I’m going to outline a system that I believe takes the best of what has come before, and adds to it in innovative ways to create what I think is a more [...]

There is a better way to review wine. It’s costly, time consuming and potentially embarrassing. No one will ever use it. Except me.
I’ve always felt that wine reviews were lacking. Not because I’m sensitive to criticism, and not just because of the power of Parker or anything similar. What has always bothered me is that [...]

I haven’t written about marketing in a long while. Know why? Nothing, and I mean nothing new is being said.
But there has always been one guy who has consistently thought differently about “word of mouth marketing” in general and social media marketing in particular. His name is Jim Novo, formerly of Home Shopping Network, and [...]

Two Sonoma County chefs take the same main ingredients, interpret them based on their own personal style, come up with completely different dishes, and then share their recipes.
That’s the premise of the new cookbook Down Home: Downtown, published by Rodney Strong Vineyards.
The two chefs, Jeff Mall from Zin restaurant (Down Home) and Josh Silvers of [...]

Two Sonoma County chefs take the same main ingredients, interpret them based on their own personal style, come up with completely different dishes, and then share their recipes.
That’s the premise of the new cookbook Down Home: Downtown, published by Rodney Strong Vineyards.
The two chefs, Jeff Mall from Zin restaurant (Down Home) and Josh Silvers of [...]

Two winemakers have their noses buried in white Burgundy. One says: “Brett?” Other says: “Bet!” Who won, and why does it matter?
Just a quick note to direct you over to PalatePress.com, the new collaborative online wine blog-o-zine, where my article on Brett in white Burgundy was just pushed live.
PalatePress is an experiment in wine writing [...]

Two winemakers have their noses buried in white Burgundy. One says: “Brett?” Other says: “Bet!” Who won, and why does it matter?
Just a quick note to direct you over to PalatePress.com, the new collaborative online wine blog-o-zine, where my article on Brett in white Burgundy was just pushed live.
PalatePress is an experiment in wine writing [...]

Blending. The Dark Art. I think you could go your whole life and not really master it. Which makes sense since art is like that; perfection is unattainable.
During blending trials you’re always worried: Am I capturing the best of this vintage? Or am I covering up distinctiveness? Am I using enough of my juice to [...]

Blending. The Dark Art. I think you could go your whole life and not really master it. Which makes sense since art is like that; perfection is unattainable.
During blending trials you’re always worried: Am I capturing the best of this vintage? Or am I covering up distinctiveness? Am I using enough of my juice to [...]

Due to some events last night, I feel compelled to post the following items.
First I’d like to point you toward this video.
I share this for two reasons.
1. It goes to credibility. You must discern for yourself the credibility of the man who is accusing me of the most heinous charge that can be leveled against [...]

Part 1 of the John Zuccarino fiasco is here.
Due to some events last night, I feel compelled to post the following items.
First I’d like to point you toward this video.
I share this for two reasons.
1. It goes to credibility. You must discern for yourself the credibility of the man who is accusing me of the [...]

I just recieved a note in my email from Lenn Thompson of the award winning wine blog Lenndevours. He forwarded the following email to me from John Zuccarino, co-owner of Silver Springs Winery in New York.
Lenny,
some sick shit is going on …a blogger came in and told me today that you and PinotBlogger are selling [...]